Paul Yim: (paulyim-deleteme[at]-deleteme-direman [dot] com) 2012-01-12 23:20:07

X-COM Returns

In 1993 a software developer and publisher called MicroProse released a turned based strategy/tactical game called X-Com: UFO Defense (called UFO: Enemy Unknown in Europe). The gameplay is simple enough: you are in charge of a super-secret international defense force specifically tasked with defending earth from alien invaders. You do this through various task spheres like intercepting alien craft, using ground forces to combat downed aliens, researching recovered alien artifacts and even the aliens themselves, manufacturing new weapons and technology for your air and ground forces based on your alien research, and managing your team's spheres of control as countries that freely gave you a million dollars this month will cut you off if you've been letting little grey men run amok within their borders. All of this varied gameplay in just one game!

Needless to say, it was a hit. It's also considered to be one of, if not the greatest, game ever made. There were sequels, of which only one captured some of the original's glory (even that was marred by a glitch that made the game next to impossible to complete because the difficulty setting was broken). There have also been a couple of related titles, none of which were strategy/tactical games. When 2K Marin announced in 2010 that they were going to do an X-Com game I and my fellow X-Com fans were intrigued...until they released some early game footage. First of all it's going to be an action game. Secondly, the setting has been moved through time and space - 1950s suburban America. Bleh. The game may be a wonderful action shooter in its own right, but it will not be an X-Com game to die hard fans. It seemed as if the dream of a proper remake of the greatest strategy/tactical game ever made would have to remain merely in our dreams.

Fast forward to January 2012. 2K Games announces that they will be releasing a new X-Com game being developed by none other than Firaxis Games - the development company that Sid Meier built. According to the exclusive article in the latest Game Informer the development team is led by long-time Sid Meier disciple and X-Com super-fan Jake Solomon. The article informs us that the team is focusing on maintaining everything that made the original great: turn-based tactical gunfights with aliens, research that leads to discoveries of new technology to bring to future fights, a global view of grand strategy as you make tough decisions on where to best allocate your limited resources - even if it means virtually abandoning certain countries to their fates,...the list goes on and on.

Finally, the remake of the century is happening and it's in the most capable hands we could have hoped for. The game will be called Xcom: Enemy Unknown and you can find out more about it here.

Dee (David Yun): (contact-deleteme[at]-deleteme-direman [dot] com) 2012-01-13 01:36:29

Will the Real X-Com Please Stand Up

Firaxis! FIRAXIS!!! WOOOO!